The Atlanta Dream might have lost the game, but they still sent a message. On Thursday, May 22, the Dream hit the floor at State Farm Arena for their home opener, but it wasn’t just about buckets and boards.
Fans walked into a blacked-out monochrome court with one bold phrase across center court: “Pay some respect to women’s sports.” Atlanta is pushing a movement, and the court itself is the message.
Atlanta Dream Unveil New Court: A Statement Bigger Than the Game
In a league that’s been shouting for respect since Day 1, Atlanta just let their court do the talking. The all-black hardwood at State Farm Arena isn’t just eye-catching, it’s unapologetic.
Plastered across midcourt in clean, bold font is a message that hits home: “Pay some respect to women’s sports.” Not a slogan. Not a gimmick. A demand. And it’s about time.
The Atlanta Dream have unveiled a new court design.
Sponsored by CashApp, it says:
Pay Some Respect to Women's Sports pic.twitter.com/75N1v7QcZz
— Front Office Sports (@FOS)
This one-of-a-kind design came to life thanks to a partnership with Cash App and Playa Society: a woman-owned streetwear brand. According to Dream president Morgan Shaw Parker, this is more than a collab, it’s a mission.
“Paying respect to women’s sports is at the heart of this partnership,” Parker said. “And our goal is to set a new standard for how brands and teams collaborate to elevate girls and women who are earning that respect every day.”
The Dream is donating the court after the game to a local youth organization. It’s not just about this one night, it’s about planting seeds for the next generation; that’s how culture shifts.
The May 22 game against the Indiana Fever wasn’t just another home opener. With Caitlin Clark in town, Atlanta made the bold move to bump the game from its usual Gateway Center Arena to the much larger State Farm Arena, home of the Atlanta Hawks.
The Fever snagged an 81-76 win over the Dream, but the headline was that Clark’s 3-point streak officially snapped. The sophomore star, who’s been lighting up the league and draining bombs like clockwork, went 0-for-5 from deep. The real closer was veteran Natasha Howard, who cooked the Dream with 26 points and made sure Indiana walked out with a 2-1 record.
With a new season heating up, one thing’s clear: women’s sports are here, and they’re not fading into the background.
